Blamed

Chapter 24

As I was making my way to the stairs, I passed the kitchen. Through the wide doorway, Ophena was sitting at the huge table that was positioned in the middle of the room. She was talking to a pack member and they seemed to be having a deep conversation. The man laid a hand on top of hers and I could feel myself gag.

"Ophena,"

Her head turned to me in surprise and I gestured towards myself with my hand. She stood up, making her way over to me. The man's eyes trailed her backside before trailing up to me. He quickly stood up, bowing as he scurried out of my sight. She spotted my distasteful look and she chuckled, playfully punching my shoulder.

"You think you and Crimson are the only ones that can have distractions?" She asked. I grunted and her peppy mood immediately dropped.

"Where is she? Is it time to go?"

"We have a problem." I gritted out, quietly. She stepped closer, glancing behind me.

"How big?" Her tone turned serious and her eyes were narrowed.

"There's a rat amongst us," I said. She blew out a breath, shaking her head.

"That's pretty big."

"Kalvin, my gamma. He could be working with Harold. I've just found out that he hasn't been following my orders. He kept the information about Shaw's phone calls from me, and I believe he is lying about Karlos' trip." My inner thoughts poured out of my mouth in a rushed whisper and Ophena eyebrows were knitted together.

"Are you sure? It kind of sounds farfetched." She muttered, biting her lip.

"He loathes Crimson. More than you. If he had a chance to get rid of her, he would take it. The boy has always been sneaky, you know that for yourself." I spat. She nodded.

"Okay then. There's a rat, so where's the bait?" I rolled my eyes at that.

"Crimson is in my office. Well, what is left of it anyway. She needs some time to herself." She raised a brow.

"What, she's on her period or something? Get her a heating pad and some chocolate. She'll be fine."

"No. She's..." My words failed to leave my mouth as my eyes spotted Crimson. She stood close to the wall, leaning on her side. Her eyes didn't meet mine and there was blood dripping from her knuckles. Dust covered her shirt and pants.

"What the hell happened to you?" Ophena asked. I cleared my throat, shaking my head. She picked up on what I was hinting at and raised a brow. Crimson hands were shaking slightly and I took a step towards her.

"Crimson--"

"Turner." She suddenly whispered. My eyebrows knitted together.

"Turner?"

"I have to talk to him. He's the only one that can help me." She said, hugging herself. She looked vulnerable and lost.

"I can't let you near him, Crimson. You might kill him. You're not stable. Especially after--"

"After I just found out that someone killed my grandmother?" She asked nastily. Her gaze finally met mine and I was relieved to see that her eyes were back to normal. Even so, I could still see an intense hunger in them. A hunger for blood.

"You're right. I'm not stable, but I'm not going to kill the only person that can help me." She spat. My heart weighed heavy at her words. The only person that can help her happens to be someone else. Another man. A vampire at that.

"Look, I get you're in a bitchy mood, but that's no way to treat my brother. He has been doing the best he can with your problems since you got here." Ophena growled out. Crimson glared at her, crossing her arms over her chest.